Amusement device.



T. 0. DECKER.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1914.

Patented Apr. 113, 191 5.

3 BHBETSr-SHEET 1.

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THE NORRIS PETERS 20., PHOTHJJTHKZ, WASHINGMN. D, C

T. O. DECKER.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1914.

Patented Apr. 13, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THOIIIAS O. DECKER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. Apr. 13, 1915.

Application filed April 3, 1914. Serial No. 829,211.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, THOMAS O. DECKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago; in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements'in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification. v

My invention relates to improvements in amusement devices and has for its object the production of a device in which the motion peculiar to a running animal is imparted to a carrying element or carrier of my device.

A further object is the production of a device in which the desired movement may be imparted to the carrier while the same is traveling in either a straight or curved path.

A further object is the production of a device which can be quickly and easily assembled in any desired series.

A further object is the production of a device using simple and cheap parts that are not easily disarranged or broken and that can be readily repaired.

These and such other objects as may hereinafter appear are attained by my device, an embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a unit of my device; Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of Fig. 1 with the carrier broken away; Fig. 3 represents a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. A r'epre sents a sectional plan view on the line 44 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; showing the changed position of the pitman. Fig. 5 represents a top plan view of an amusement device embodying my peculiar features with portions broken away.

Like numerals indicate like parts in the several figures of the drawing.

Referring now to the drawings, especially to Figs. 1 and 5, A represents a unit embodying my peculiar construction adapted to be secured to a cable C passing about large wheels D, D. It is understood of course that motion is imparted to the wheels in any desired manner in order to cause the separate elements to travel about the wheels.

It is of course understood that instead of using two wheels D, D with a. straight track between, a single large wheel after the order of the merry-goround may be used. It is also to be understood that I do not limit myself to the assembling of my invention in either of these methods, but may have the various units composing my device as sembled separately or in series on any form of a track and actuated by any desired motive power.

Referring 'now to theunit A, this comprises a platform 6 carrying a supporting yoke frame 7 in which is ournaled a shaft 8 supporting the main or carrying wheel .9. A short shaft or pin 10 is also mounted within the yoke on which is mounted the gear wheel 11 meshing with the smaller gear wheel 12 on the shaft 8 and preferably formed integral with the sleeve 13 of the wheel 9. A pitman 14 is mounted at its lower end 15 eccentrically on the gear wheel 11 so that as the carrying wheel 9 is revolved 1 the pitman is given a reciprocating motion up and down and forward and back, the range of motion being regulated by the po sition at which the lower end of the pitman is secured to the gear 11. This pitman terminates at its upper end in a yoke member comprising a horizontal supporting member 15 and upwardly extending arms 16, 16

In practice I find it advisable to make the members 14, 15, 16 and 16 integral with each other. Rigidlymounted on the tops of the yoke members 16, 16 by means of bolts 17 are carrying members or carriers 18, the present embodiment being that of a running horse formed of any desired material preferably of wood and leather.

The movement of the pitman forward and back is limited by means of a pair of levers 19, 19, one end of which 20 is pivotally secured to the end of the horizontal pitman member 15 while the other end is pivotally secured at 21 to a suitable support mounted on the end of the platform 6. It will thus be seen that as the unit A is moved along a track revolving the wheel 9, the carrier 18 is given an oscillatory reciprocatory motion,

very much resembling the movement of a galloping or running horse. It is evident that any range of forward and back motion and up and down motion may be obtained by the proper adjustment of the pitman on the gear wheel and of the levers 19.

The reference to Fig. 1 shows that the platform 6 comprises a supporting frame 21 and cross-boards 23 and has an outward rigid member 24 at 29 and the corresponding end of the movablejmember 25 at 30.

This movable member of course is pivoted portion of my device.

to the carriage at 81. By this construction it will benoted that whilethe carriage is maintained at a right angle to the cable while traveling'in a straight line, the insertion of the movable link member 25 permits the carriage to travel about a circle or curved track, as shown at Fig. 5.

In order to avoid any danger of persons falling down between the carriages of the various units especially when thedevice is used on curved surfaces, suitablecollapsible members 32'are provided as shown'in Fig. 5, no claim being made to any novelty in this It will be noted that I have shown a pitman as a means. of permitting motion. from the gears to the carrier. Any other means oftransmission in the shape of an eccentric may be substituted for the pitman without v in any way departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring now to the-operation of my device, as shown in Fig. 5, it may be mounted as a 'merry-go-round with large wheels at either end andstraight track between or if desired a long straight orcurved track over any desired distance maybe utilized without in any way'detracting from the value ofjmy device as an amusement device.

I As the carriage passes along, the revolu- 7 tion of the wheel gives the reciprocatory IllOtlOIlflIld at the same time carries the carrler backward and forward, at the same tune tilting the front of the carrier and elevating the back and then raising the front and depressing the back giving the oscillatory motion to the carrier. In other, devices of this kind astifi' jerky motion is imparted to the carrier, makingit not at all pleasant toqthe rider and in no sense the equivalent of the easy and natural motion imparted by the use of my-device. V p NVhile I have'shownthe carrier as two horses or animals, it iscf courseunderstood thatany number from one up may be utl-i 'hzed or the devlce'may comprise a single unit mounted on a suitable carriage and used as a childs toy. The main purposes,

N however, for which the device is adapted, in

Copies ofthis patent may. be obtained for five cents each, by addressi Washingtom'D. C."

various modifications, all of which are contemplated, however, by my improvements and come within the scope of my invention.

Having thusdescribed my invention, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an amusement device a platform, a wheel support therefor, a wheel mounted thereon, a gear wheel adapted to be operated by the revolution of said wheel, a carrying device, a connecting bar connecting said carrying device to said gear wheel, and a link pivotally secured to said bar and said platform. V r

2. In an amusement device a platform, a Wheel support attached thereto, awheel mounted thereon, a gear wheel mounted on the shaft of said wheel, a second gear wheel in mesh therewith, a carrying device, a rigid connecting bar connecting said carrying device to said second gear wheel, and a link pivotally secured to' said carrying bar and said platform. 1

8. In an amusement device a platform, a wheel support attached thereto, a wheel mounted thereon, a gear wheel @mounted on the shaft'of'said wheel, asecondgear wheel in meshtherewith,'a carrying device, a rigid connecting bar connecting said carrying device to said second gear wheel, and a link pivotally secured to said carrying bar and said platform in front of said carrier.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a plurality of carrying members, means for securing said carrying members to a traveling cable, said means comprising a rigid connection securing one end of each of said carrying members to the cable and a swinging link connection carrying the opposite end of said carrying members, whereby said members may travel through a curved path "without affecting the position of said cable.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

- THOMAS O. DECKER.

Witnesses C. E. 'KANE, ANNE SoLoMoN.

ng the Commissioner of Patents,

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